Shower-bath apparatus



Patented Dec. 17, l90l.

J. M. CASTLE. SHOWER BATHAPPABATUS.

A umio'n fllod Apr. 10, 1901.

2 Shoots-Shoot I.

(In Model.)

/A/ VE/V 747R M H 5 5 H w my a m: mnis m m, mmuma, msuma'r'm o. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MATTHEW CASTLE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOWER-BATH APPARATUS SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 689,164, dated December 17, 1901.

I Application filed April 10, 1901. Serial No. 55,205. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MATTHEW CAS- TLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shower-Bath Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement in shower-bath apparatus,and more particularly to folding shower-bath apparatus.

The object of my invention is to produce an improved shower-bath apparatus capable of being folded into a small space, easily unfolded for use, and which shall be so organized and arrangedas to be hygienic, convenient for operation, and, among other things, in which the water after it has been used is carried to a receptacle separate from the receptacle containing the water which has not been used.

To the above ends the present invention consists in the shower-bath apparatus hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 is a medial sectional side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the parts above the line a: as, Fig. 1, removed. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the lower part of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a plan of the curtain and sprinkler carrier. Fig. 5 is a plan of the water-receptacles, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line y y of- Fig. 2.

y In general my invention contemplates the use of a cabinet, within which the apparatus is adapted to be contained when not in use. In this cabinet are contained receptacles for the water to be used, for the water which has been used, devices for raising and supporting the curtain and sprinkler, and a pump for pumping the water to the sprinkler.

In the illustrated embodiment of my inve ntion the cabinet (indicated in a general way tom 3 of the box, and thus constitutesadrop side. The lid 4 is hinged to the top of the back 5 of the box. When the apparatus is not in use, the front fits iu'between the two sides 6 and 7 of the box, and the lid 4 closes down over the box and holds the front 2 in position.

A U-shaped receptacle or reservoir 8 for the water to be used (shown in cross-section in Fig. 1) extends around the two sides and rear of the bottom of the box. 9 for the water which has been used is provided in the middle, and it consists of a pan (shown in section in Fig. 1) which is adapted to be withdrawn from the front after the apparatus has been used to empty the water contained therein. Adefiecting-shield 10 extends inward from the walls of a guard 11, which extends completely around the inside of the bottom of the box, being separated on its sides from the sides of the box to allow space for the devices for lifting and supporting the sprinkler and curtain, hereinafter described. This deflecting-shield l0 deflects the falling waters into the receiving-pan 9 and prevents them from falling into the reservoir 8. A pump 12, held in position bya bracket 13, projected forwardly from the rear side of the box, goes down through the shield 10 and enters the reservoir 8. The reservoir 8 is provided with a depression 14 to receive the foot of the pump, so that substantially all of the water may be pumped out of the reservoir. A tube 15 leads from the pump to the sprinkler 16, supported by the sprinkler and curtain carrier.

The sprinkler and curtain carrier 17 consists of two concentric rings 18 and 19, connected-together by radial bars 20, which support at their center a small ring 21, through which the tube 15 passes to the sprinkler 16. The sprinkler and curtain carrier is supported in the illustrated embodiment of my invention by two pairs of lazy-tongs 22, projected upwardly from the two sides of the box outside of the guard 11. The first joint 23 of the lazy-tongs is secured in any suitable manner, as by a bolt, to the middle of the side of the box. The second joint 24. of the lazy-tongs is provided with a pin or-bolt A receptacle,

which enters a slot 25 in a guide 26, secured to the side of the box. By lifting the second joint 24 of the lazy-tongs the lazy-tongs will be opened and projected upward. To the upper end of the lazy-tongs the sprinkler and curtain carrier-is attached bymeans of small links 27, pivoted to the ends of the last two bars of the lazy-tongs and to a bar 28, secu red to the outer ring 19 of the sprinkler and ourtain carrier. 'lhelinks 227 permit the ends of the last two bars of the lazy-tongsto approach and l'ecede from each other in the course of their motion, at the same time always holding the sprinkler and curtain carrier level and centrally over the cabinet.

The outer ring 19 comprises a curtain-support, and it is provided with buttons 29, upon which the curtain 30 may he buttoned. Suit-- able buttons 31 are also provided on the guard 11, to which the lower ends of the curtain may be attached, so that by these buttons the curtain may be held expanded and supported in proper position.

I prefer to make the curtain of muslin, so that a clean one may be provided each time the apparatus is used. This conserves the sanitary state of the apparatus. Of course the curtain will be wetted during use; but it will prevent the Water from splashing through it, and the water will .trickle down its sides into the receptacle to receive it.

Any suitable connection may be had between the devices for lifting and supporting the sprinkler and curtain carrier and the front of the box by virtue of which when the front is lowered the sprinkler and curtain carrier will be lifted. For this purpose in the illustrated embodiment of my invention I have pt ovided cords 33, running over pulleys 34 on the sides 6 and 7 of the box and extending to the second joint 24 of the lazy-tongs. These cords 33 pass under strips 35, secured to the inside of thefrontof the box, and thence through a groove 36 to each other, where they will be knotted together. A slight enlargement 37 of the groove 36 is provided to receive the knot 38 where the two cords 33 are united. I have found that in practice it is desirable to secure the cord to the front 2 in this manner, so as to permit a slight come and go of the cord through the groove in the front to compensate for unequal stretch of the cord and in order to apply equal forces upon both lazy-tongs in unison. The strip 35 is preferably provided with two or more downwardlyprojecting tongues 39, so that if it were desired to adjust slightly the length of the cord it could easily be done by moving it from back of one projection 39 to back of the next projection 39. In use of course a. towel or mat will be spread over the front after it has been lowered. I have provided the extreme end of the front 2 with a weight 32 to hold the sprinkler and curtain carrier in its elevated position during use.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: Assuming the cabinet to be closed and provided with a clean curtain,it will be opened by lifting the lid 4 and pulling down the front 2, whereby the sprinkler and curtain carrier will be raised and the apparatus will assume a position for use. Then through the hole 40, provided in the front of the guard, the water will be poured into the reservoir 8. Then the bather will step into the apparatus, standing in the pan 9, and bysimply working the pump 12 with the hand the water from the reservoir will be pumped up through the'tube 15 and projected down over the bather from the sprinkler 16, whereit will fall into the recepwhere the rooms are not provided with or convenient to a bath-room. When the occupant desires to use the apparatus, the attendant will bring a curtain and hang it on the carrier and attach it to the guard and will pour into the reservoir the proper quantity of water. When the bather has finished with the apparatus or when the room is made up, the attendant will remove the curtain and the pan 9, so that every part of the apparatus which comes in contact with the person of the bather is kept in a condition of the most scrupulous cleanliness.

It is to be noted that my invention is not limited to the precise embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Initsbroader aspects my, invention contemplates any constructionof shower-bath apparatus-which when opened automatically lifts the sprinkler and, if desired, the curtain to the proper height.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A shower-bath apparatus, having, in combination, a cabinet provided with a drop side, a sprinkler support, connections between the sprinkler-support and the drop side constructed and arranged to. lift the .sprinkler-support when the drop side is lowered, substantially as described.

2. A shower bath apparatus, having, in combination, a cabinet provided with a drop side, a curtain and sprinkler carrier, and connections between the curtain and sprinkler carrier and the drop side constructed and arthe sides of the cabinet and cords extending to the drop side from the lazy-tongs adapted when the drop side is lowered to raise the lazy-tongs and to lift the sprinkler-carrier, substantially as described.

6. A shower-bath apparatus, having, in combination, a U-shaped reservoir for the water to be used, a receptacle for the water which has been used, the receptacle being located within the opening of the reservoir, and a deflecting-plate extended over the reservoir and deflecting the falling waters into the receptacle, and preventing them from falling in the reservoir, substantially as described.

7. A shower-bath apparatus, having, in combination, an open reservoir for the water to be used, an open receptacle for the water which has been used, said reservoir and receptacle being located adjacent to each other and a deflector covering the reservoir and deflecting the falling waters into the receptacle, substantially as described.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MATTHEW CASTLE.

Witnesses:

HORACE VAN EVEREN, ALFRED H. HILDRETH. 

